Document RJrz2rwz47YZ05zXNvKJXKZoX

3 Thumb families settle PCB suits A Irsyvy ^ By STEVE CALLANDER r r y 1I conclusion of a consolidated case brought by Ronald and Times Writer ______________________________ Bonita Schulz, and Dale and BAD AXE Three Thumb Christine Schulz. Testimony in farm families have agreed to the Schulz' cases w-as finished settle lawsuits filed over con and lawyers were preparing tamination from polychlorinat jury instructions when a settle ed biphenyl used to coat their ment was reached in all three silos, lawyers and family mem cases, a court official said. bers said today. The settlem ents, reached Thursday in Huron County Cir cuit Court, signal an end to PCB suits that had been watched with interest by farm families and agriculture experts across the Midwest. Terms of the set tlements with C & B Silo Co. were not disclosed. "We are glad that it's done," said Deborah Hyzer who, with her family, sued C & B Silo and Monsanto Chemical Co. over ail ments they claimed stemmed from PCB used as a sealant on the walls of their silo. "We're both just very happy that it's C & B, formerly of Charlotte, declared bankruptcy in the late 1970s and is no longer in busi ness. The firm's lawyer, John Davidson, of Saginaw, declined to comment on the manner in which the firm will pay the families. Jurors in a 1984 trial involving an Owendale farm family ruled that C & B was not liable for damages in that case. Monsanto had settled with all three families more than a year ago. Terms of that settlement also were not disclosed, however. over and we hope that the toxins "There's great relief that it's left in us don't prevent us or our over," said Dale Schulz of the kids from having a happy settlement with C & B. Schulz future." had two silos contaminated by The U.S. Environmental Pro PCB. "We're glad it's behind us tection Agency banned the use now. But we just have to live of PCB in 1977 after the chemi with the PCB remaining in our cals were linked to cancer and systems. It's fat soluble and it other health problems in labora goes out of our system real tory animals. PCB had been slow. used to coat hundreds of silos in "The amount of PCB in our the Midwest from the 1940s to blood has dropped down about a 1960s. third since it was detected in The Hyzers' suit against C & 1978 but as it drops, it aUvays B wras to go to trial after the drops slower," he added.